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Welcome to NLMS Music Summer School at Downe House

A music summer school for adult amateur players and singers, with two orchestras, choir, string group and brass ensemble courses

NLMS has been running summer schools for over thirty years. The 2019 Summer School was a huge success, with excellent attendance at a superb new venue, and great music making by all the ensembles and friendly support from our amazing team of tutors.

There are some final details to hammer out, but the current plan is that the 2020 summer school will take place from Saturday 1 to 8 August, at Downe House School in Cold Ash, near Newbury in Berkshire.

Downe House is a girls’ boarding school and an ideal venue for our music summer school. Musical accommodation is plentiful, the residential accommodation comprises single and double rooms all with wash basins, catering is very high quality and the buildings are accessible and close together, with parking nearby. Situated only a few miles from the M4 and A34, and from Newbury station, the school has excellent transport links. Extensive and beautiful grounds as well as a swimming pool complement the facilities available to course members. And of course we will be setting up our usual bar! Overall, Downe House is a wonderful venue for enjoying friendship in music.

Steve Bingham conducts the Sinfonietta

NLMS offers a challenging and enjoyable week of music making
in a very friendly atmosphere. Two
orchestras, a choir, a brass ensemble and a string group provide a wide variety
of courses to suit all abilities and interests.
A feature of NLMS Music Summer School is the very high ratio of tutors
to participants, with a professional tutor for each instrument and each
voice. Each course enjoys wide-ranging
and exciting repertoire.

A wide range of optional sessions is open to all, complementing the main courses. In 2019 these included baroque strings, woodwind ensemble, open strings and an open choir session. Another open choir session, on the first evening, featured Rutter’s Gloria, and our open opera session (which we successfully inaugurated in 2018) featured Gilbert & Sullivan’s Trial By Jury, giving all course members the opportunity to join the opera chorus and work alongside professional singers and instrumentalists.

Concerts take place each evening, given both by participants and professionals.

MESSAGE FROM STEVE BINGHAM

We aim to provide enjoyment through music-making and, while we achieve high standards of performance, this is never at the expense of friendliness and good humour. I hope to see you at our new venue in August 2019 and, whether you are a regular attender or a new member, you can be assured of a warm welcome.

Steve BinghamNLMS Music Summer School Director

WHAT COURSE MEMBERS SAY

See what makes NLMS Music Summer Schools so highly regarded by participants…

“A high spot of our year. Many thanks for providing such a super musical experience.”

“This week was close to being perfect for me.”

“Not only musically helpful but friendly. I look forward to next year.”

“A wonderful week of hard, fulfilling study and practice.”

“A very good social opportunity to meet and make new friends.”

“The venue, organisation, facilities and camaraderie have been 1st rate.”

“I had such a good time. Music-making is so exciting!”

“This course kept me smiling for weeks.”

FIND OUT MORE

APPLY NOW

Whether you are one of our many frequent returners, or thinking about coming for the first time, at NLMS Music Summer School you will enjoy a wealth of music making activities, professional tuition in an encouraging and supportive atmosphere, with excellent food, convivial social activities, beautiful surroundings and lots more besides. We’re looking forward to receiving your application!

The courses are filling up fast, so we recommend you apply as soon as possible, and in any case by 30 June 2019.